Marnie Piehl enters school board race

Marnie Piehl is the latest candidate to throw her hat in the ring for the Mandan School Board election.

Piehl, 44, works at Bismarck State College as the director of college relations, starting in April. She has three kids in the Mandan school system – a seventh-grader and twin second-graders.

“I feel pretty strongly about being involved in the community,” she said.

Piehl said she is particularly invested in the making sure teachers feel supported in the classroom. Children are different, she said, and it is important for teachers to have the resources they need to teach to all students.

Piehl and her family moved to Mandan after living in Apple Creek. She said she was nervous for her children to start in a school district that would be significantly larger than Apple Creek – the school has a total of about 60 students – but found the Mandan schools to be very welcoming and supportive.

Mandan’s population is increasing and the board has done a good job so far in adapting to that change in a fiscally responsible way, she said.

“I just want to help,” she said. “I want to be a part of this community growing.”

Piehl has been involved in Parent-Teacher Organizations and has served on the board of her church and the Red Cross. As someone who works in public relations, she recognizes the importance of communication, both between the board and parents, but also between the board and the rest of the district, she said.

Piehl is running for one of the three at-large seats up for election. Bob Klemisch has also announced an at-large bid. Board member Sheldon Wolf, who was appointed to the board last year, is running for election to serve out the term as the rural member of the board.